Dante Alighieri: "The Divine Comedy". Summary for schoolchildren

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

At the heart of Dante's poem is humanity's recognition of its sins and the ascent to spiritual life and to God. According to the poet, in order to find peace of mind, it is necessary to go through all the circles of hell and give up blessings, and redeem sins with suffering. Each of the three chapters of the poem includes 33 songs. "Hell", "Purgatory" and "Paradise" are the eloquent names of the parts that make up the "Divine Comedy". The summary makes it possible to comprehend the main idea of the poem.

Dante Alighieri created the poem during the years of exile, shortly before his death. She is recognized in world literature as a brilliant creation. The author himself gave her the name "Comedy". So in those days it was customary to call any work that has a happy ending. "Divine" Boccaccio called her, thus putting the highest mark.

Dante's poem "The Divine Comedy",the summary of which schoolchildren pass in the 9th grade is hardly perceived by modern teenagers. A detailed analysis of some songs cannot give a complete picture of the work, especially considering today's attitude to religion and human sins. However, an acquaintance, albeit an overview, with the work of Dante is necessary to create a complete picture of world fiction.

"Divine Comedy". Summary of the chapter "Hell"

The protagonist of the work is Dante himself, to whom the shadow of the famous poet Virgil appears with an offer to travel through the afterlife. Dante is hesitant at first, but agrees after Virgil informs him that Beatrice (the author's lover, long dead by then) asked him to be his guide to the poet.

The path of actors begins from hell. In front of the entrance to it are miserable souls who, during their lifetime, did neither good nor evil. Outside the gate flows the river Acheron, through which Charon transports the dead. The heroes are approaching the circles of hell:

• The first is limbo, here the souls of the unbaptized and those who have not committed evil rest. These include the wise men and heroes of antiquity such as Homer, Socrates, Plato and Virgil.
• The second is guarded by Minos and intended for voluptuaries.
• The third is reserved for the souls of gluttons and gluttons. At the entrance to this circle is the three-headed dog Cerberus. It rains all the time here, so the souls are always bathed in mud.
• The fourth is reserved for misers and spendthrifts, most of whom were formerlypopes and cardinals. It is guarded by the giant Plutus.
• The fifth accepts the souls of the envious, and those who have been overcome by anger.
• The sixth is located at the foot of the city of Dita. Heretics are buried here.
• The seventh is for suicides, usurers, blasphemers, murderers. When Dante touched a branch of a bush, black blood poured from it, the plant groaned. It turned out that these are the souls of suicides that peck at the Harpies, causing them terrible pain.
• Eighth - for hypocrites, seducers, pimps, thieves, sectarians.
• The ninth is reserved for the souls of traitors. Here is an icy lake, in which those who betrayed their relatives froze with their whole bodies. In the center of the earth stands the ruler of the underworld, Lucifer. He has three mouths, with which he eternally devours Judas, Brutus and Cassius.

After going through all the circles of hell, Dante and his companion went upstairs and saw the stars.

"Divine Comedy". Brief summary of the part "Purgatory"

The main character and his guide end up in purgatory. Here they are met by the guard Cato, who sends them to the sea to wash. The companions go to the water, where Virgil washes away the soot of the underworld from Dante's face. At this time, a boat sails up to the travelers, which is ruled by an angel. He lands on the shore the souls of the dead who did not go to hell. With them, the heroes make a journey to the mountain of purgatory. On the way, they meet fellow countryman Virgil, the poet Sordello, who joins them.

Dante falls asleep and is transported in a dream to the gates of purgatory. Here is an angelwrites on the forehead of the poet seven letters denoting mortal sins. The hero goes through all the circles of purgatory, being cleansed of sins. After passing each circle, the angel erases from Dante's forehead the letter of the overcome sin. On the last lap, the poet must pass through the flames of fire. Dante is afraid, but Virgil convinces him. The poet passes the test of fire and goes to heaven, where Beatrice is waiting for him. Virgil falls silent and disappears forever. The beloved washes Dante in the sacred river, and the poet feels strength pouring into his body.

"Divine Comedy". Summary of the part "Paradise"

Beloved ones ascend to heaven. To the surprise of the protagonist, he was able to take off. Beatrice explained to him that souls not burdened with sins are light. Lovers pass through all heavenly skies:

• the first sky of the moon, where the souls of the nuns are;
• second - Mercury for the ambitious righteous;
• third - Venus, here the souls of the loving rest;
• fourth - the Sun, intended for the sages;
• fifth - Mars, which receives warriors;
• sixth - Jupiter, for just souls;
• seventh - Saturn, where the souls of contemplators are;
• eighth - for the spirits of the great righteous;
• ninth - here are angels and archangels, seraphim and cherubim.

After ascending to the last heaven, the hero sees the Virgin Mary. She is among the shining rays. Dante raises his head up to the bright and blinding light and finds the highest truth. He sees the deity in histrinity.

Summary of the Divine Comedy, of course, allows you to get acquainted with the general idea, but is not able to convey even a small fraction of all the beauty of the poem's songs.